Xu Pingfeng’s formation contained its power, concealing its might without revealing it.

Garuda Tree Bodhisattva’s dharma bodies brought forth obvious supernatural phenomena.

The dharma body on the left stood six zhang tall, as if cast in gold, with bulging muscles. Twelve pairs of arms spread like a fan behind its back, and a burning ring of fire blazed behind its head.

It seemed to be the incarnation of strength and flame. As soon as it appeared, the temperature in the high altitude suddenly rose, bringing the scorching heat of midsummer. Its overwhelming pressure swept out in all directions with the heat waves.

The right one was a pale golden dharma body sitting cross-legged, head lowered and eyes downcast, hands clasped in prayer. It symbolized the weight of mountains, and around it, space solidified—not even the slightest breeze stirred.

Whoosh…

The sound of waves rose again, but this time, the phantom black waves surged a hundred zhang high, like a massive wall connecting to the heavens.

Compared to it, the snow-white-robed Divine Observer appeared as tiny as an ant.

Simultaneously, crackling electric arcs jumped between the White Emperor’s horns, forming a brilliant white lightning sphere that continued gathering power.

The Divine Observer repeated his previous technique, reaching back with his right hand into the black giant wave, slowly drawing out a black longsword.

Xu Pingfeng suddenly vanished, using transmission arts to “flash” to the Divine Observer’s side, making the exact same motion—his left hand reached into the black wave, pulling out a black blade.

Master and disciple stood side by side, simultaneously drawing their weapons and forcefully clashing them together.

Boom!

Above the sea of clouds, the explosion of countless waves echoed.

After blocking the Divine Observer’s sword, Xu Pingfeng didn’t engage further, immediately retreating with his transmission art.

His figure flashed away, appearing dozens of zhang away in the clouds, but he hadn’t successfully escaped—the Divine Observer remained at his side as if he had brought him along during the transmission.

The white-haired, white-bearded old Divine Observer, expressionless, reached out to grab Xu Pingfeng’s neck.

Hum!

The circular formation beneath Xu Pingfeng’s feet activated, and the characters for “Water, Lake, Earth” lit up, raising a barrier before him—gray-yellow inside, pitch-black outside, with electric arcs dancing across its surface.

At the same time, from the brocade pouch at his waist, streams of light leaped forth—a heavy bronze bell, a brass heart-protecting mirror, an iron shield, seven concentric rings wreathed in flame…

Eight top-tier defensive magical artifacts in total.

Bang… the bronze bell shattered.

Bang… the heart-protecting mirror shattered.

Bang… the iron shield shattered.

Bang… the seven rings shattered.

The Divine Observer’s hand, like an invincible divine weapon, destroyed all his wayward disciple’s top-tier artifacts.

Xu Pingfeng remained completely calm, taking advantage of the moment the artifacts bought him to stamp his foot.

In the light of the transmission formation, Garuda Tree Bodhisattva appeared before Xu Pingfeng, fiercely clenching his fist. From shoulder to elbow to back, every bulging muscle surged with divine power.

He threw out a punch.

Simultaneously, the Acala Wisdom King’s dharma body above Garuda Tree Bodhisattva’s head quickly formed a mudra with its clasped hands.

The wrinkles in this space were immediately flattened, entering a frozen state.

The Divine Observer’s transmission formations could no longer work. He raised his palm, casually moving to block Garuda Tree Bodhisattva’s fist.

Hum!

The dark golden fist struck a barrier made of hexagonal segments. The First-Grade Bodhisattva’s punch force instantly covered the front barrier, making it violently shake and emit a humming sound.

The hexagonal barrier frantically dispersed the force before shattering and scattering. The Divine Observer quickly slid backward.

Zizi-Zizi, amid the sound of jumping electric arcs, the brilliant white lightning sphere that had been brewing between the White Emperor’s horns finally seized this opportunity and shot forth.

The sea of clouds surged violently, dense electric arcs flashing past. How fast was lightning?

Unable to use transmission arts and in a state of retreat, the Divine Observer had no chance to dodge. He pressed both hands downward, accurately catching the lightning sphere between his palms.

The lightning sphere pushed the Divine Observer to continue sliding backward.

Seizing this opportunity, the White Emperor and Garuda Tree Bodhisattva moved in sync, attempting to deal heavy blows to this Fate Master with their powerful close combat abilities, expanding their advantage.

Formation after formation expanded beneath Xu Pingfeng’s feet, encompassing the Divine Observer.

Binding, attacking, interfering… these formations normally couldn’t deal with the Divine Observer, but now, overlapping with the lightning sphere’s assault, they proved remarkably effective.

The White Emperor and Garuda Tree appeared on either side of the Divine Observer.

The former opened its fanged mouth wide, as if to devour the Divine Observer. The latter twisted his waist and swung his arms, his muscles exploding with surging power.

At this moment, a glint flashed in the Divine Observer’s eyes.

Bang! He violently extinguished the lightning sphere, and his smoking right hand pressed against his waist, suddenly pulling something out.

“Crack! Crack!”

With two crisp explosive sounds, the White Emperor was whipped away, its snow-white scales shattering as blood sprayed. Garuda Tree Bodhisattva staggered backward, a shallow whip mark appearing on his dark golden body.

In the Divine Observer’s hand was a shepherd’s whip.

The treasured weapon of Great Shaman Saren Agu, the Shamanic Church’s supreme divine artifact—had another name: the God-Striking Whip.

When executing Jeanne back then, Saren Agu and the Divine Observer had wagered in the Star-Watching Tower, betting their Heaven’s Mechanism Plate and God-Striking Whip on Xu Qi’an’s life or death.

Since Xu Qi’an hadn’t died, naturally Saren Agu had lost.

“This broken whip isn’t much use, but it’s handy for beating crude fellows like you two.”

The Divine Observer sneered, flicking the whip.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

The whip became a blur, ignoring distance as it struck Xu Pingfeng, Garuda Tree Bodhisattva, and the White Emperor again.

Behind Xu Pingfeng, a white-robed figure was whipped out—that was his primordial spirit.

The White Emperor’s primordial spirit was a blurry black shadow that, just as it was about to leave its body, forcefully dove back in.

Only Garuda Tree Bodhisattva was immune to the God-Striking Whip’s properties—the Acala Wisdom King’s mudra kept him steady as a mountain.

The Divine Observer ignored the White Emperor and Garuda Tree Bodhisattva, flicking his wrist to whip Xu Pingfeng’s primordial spirit.

A primordial spirit separated from its physical body was undoubtedly fragile. Except for shamans and Daoists, cultivators of any system had relatively vulnerable primordial spirits.

The whip became a blur as it struck at Xu Pingfeng’s primordial spirit. This blow would scatter his three hun souls.

But at this moment, dense liquid-like sludge flowed from the phantom white-robed spirit master’s body.

This liquid carried an aura of corruption and evil, quickly covering and protecting Xu Pingfeng’s primordial spirit.

“Crack!”

The whip struck the sludge-like liquid, making Xu Pingfeng and the liquid shake violently, nearly dispersing.

After landing one strike, the Divine Observer stopped, lowering his head to look at the whip in his hand.

It was stained with viscous black liquid and had lost its spiritual nature.

On the other side, the black liquid covering Xu Pingfeng’s body separated, twisting and writhing as it took human form. He had human features and appearance but was covered in thick, polluted liquid.

Only his eyes were truly human eyes.

The Earth Sect Leader—Black Lotus!

The two main culprits responsible for Great Tang’s current predicament were now both present.

“The property of corruption specifically counters divine weapons and magical artifacts—even the Nation-Stabilizing Sword isn’t immune. Teacher, why not try your Heaven’s Mechanism Plate instead?”

Xu Pingfeng’s primordial spirit returned to his body. He stood with his hands behind his back, smiling broadly:

“Oh, I forgot the Heaven’s Mechanism Plate is Teacher’s trump card, not something you’d use casually.”

The Divine Observer released his grip, and the shepherd’s whip dissolved into light.

Then his right hand turned over, revealing two objects in his palm—one an ancient-style Confucian crown, the other a simple carving knife.

The Divine Observer slowly donned the crown, gripped the knife, and smiled slightly at his four enemies:

“If I were to summon the Confucian Sage, would any of you have hope of survival today?”

The White Emperor’s azure eyes scrutinized the Divine Observer as it said in its deep voice:

“Summoning a Transcendent Grade will surely invoke heaven’s backlash. Even with your First-Grade cultivation, you’d pay an enormous price. I bet you wouldn’t dare…”

Swish… Before it could finish speaking, the three beings and one beast saw a sheet of paper appear in the Divine Observer’s hand, quickly burning to ash.

Such decisiveness… Xu Pingfeng’s pupils slightly contracted as he retreated using his transmission formation, deploying artifact after artifact to protect himself.

Garuda Tree Bodhisattva remained motionless—the Acala Wisdom King’s mudra maintaining that stillness was the strongest defense.

As a Second-Grade cultivator, Black Lotus’s determination to retreat was even stronger than Xu Pingfeng’s.

The White Emperor crouched low, head near its front paws, throat emitting a low growl. Of its horns, one gathered lightning, and the other brewed dark light.

The Divine Observer sneered:

“I was just scaring you!”

Just as relief showed on the faces of the three beings and one beast, he suddenly adjusted his crown and shouted:

“I summon the Confucian Sage!”

Above the sea of clouds, below the heavenly dome, a pair of cold, emotionless eyes slowly opened.